07/17/2026
‼️To the Residents of Frelinghuysen Township‼️
Over the past several years, the men and women of the Frelinghuysen Township Volunteer Fire Company have dedicated countless hours to protecting this community. They have responded to emergencies at all hours of the day and night, trained continuously, raised funds to support the department, cleared driveways so residents and emergency vehicles could gain access during storms, opened a cooling station during extreme heat, and answered every call with one goal in mind, serving the residents of Frelinghuysen Township.
Unfortunately, we find ourselves in a position we never imagined.
As many of you may know, the membership of the fire company elected its Chief and Deputy Chief in accordance with the company's bylaws. In January, we submitted the names of our duly elected officers to the Township Committee for confirmation pursuant to the Township ordinance. We never received any response.
As a newly established department, we did not question the lack of a response. We believed, as is common in many municipalities, that confirmation was largely a ceremonial acknowledgment of the officers elected by the membership. Given the level of contention that existed at the time, we assumed the Township had simply chosen not to hold a formal public recognition, as had been done by the previous Township Committee.
Throughout the year, the Township's own actions reinforced that understanding. In written correspondence, during public meetings, and in private meetings, Township officials repeatedly referred to and acknowledged Angel Ortiz as the Fire Chief. At no point were we advised that the Township did not recognize our elected Chief or that there was any issue regarding his authority to serve in that capacity.
The Township's actions went beyond simply referring to Chief Ortiz by title. Consistent with the Township ordinance, stipend payments designated for the Chief and Deputy Chief were issued to the department's elected officers. Before those payments were made, the bills were reviewed by the Mayor, placed on the Township Committee's bill list agenda, and unanimously approved by the Township Committee during the normal public bill approval process. Like the Township's repeated acknowledgment of Chief Ortiz throughout the year, these actions further reinforced our understanding that there was no dispute regarding the status of the department's elected Chief and Deputy Chief.
It was not until the recent Township Committee meeting that the Township publicly stated it does not recognize Chief Angel Ortiz as Chief because the Committee never acted upon the confirmations submitted in January. This was the first time the membership became aware that the Township considered those confirmations unresolved.
During that same meeting, the Township Attorney advised the Committee that the confirmation of the Chief and Deputy Chief needed to occur as soon as possible. The Attorney explained that confirmation was important not only to protect the Township, but also to protect the department, the Chief, and its members. He further stated that, in the event of an incident, insurance claim, or other liability issue, one of the first questions would be whether the confirmation required by the ordinance had occurred. He also emphasized that, because the fire department operates under the Township's insurance, it is critical that the required steps be completed to ensure the protections afforded to both the Township and the volunteers.
Despite that advice, the Committee voted to table the matter rather than act upon it, leaving the department's command structure unresolved.
Had this issue been addressed when the elected officers were submitted for confirmation in January, as required by the ordinance, the uncertainty that now exists could have been resolved months ago and the current situation could have been avoided.
The membership recently met to discuss this issue at length. The overwhelming consensus was that our volunteers are uncomfortable responding to emergency calls under circumstances where the Township has stated it does not recognize the department's elected Chief and Deputy Chief. Whether intended or not, the current situation has created uncertainty regarding incident command and operational leadership on emergency scenes. Public safety depends upon a clearly defined chain of command, and our members should never have to question who has the authority to lead an incident.
We have respectfully asked the Township Committee to immediately act upon the confirmation of the Chief and Deputy Chief so this uncertainty can be resolved. We have also made clear that our only objective is to protect our volunteers, our residents, and the integrity of the department's command structure.
To date, we have not received the clarification or action necessary to resolve these concerns.
If the Township wishes to explore other options for fire protection and ultimately determines that it no longer needs or wants the Frelinghuysen Township Volunteer Fire Company to provide fire service to our community, we understand that may be within its authority.
However, until such time, we respectfully request that the Township immediately confirm the Chief and Deputy Chief as elected by the membership.
The membership has concluded that it cannot responsibly continue responding to emergency calls while the Township maintains that it does not recognize the department's elected Chief and Deputy Chief. As a result, Frelinghuysen Township is now without coverage from its primary responding fire department.
This situation places public safety at risk and is entirely avoidable. It can be resolved immediately by the Township Committee acting on the confirmations that have been pending since January.
This is not a decision the membership reached lightly. Every member understands the impact this situation has on our community. This is not about politics. It is not about personalities. It is about the safety and well-being of our residents, our families, and the volunteers who have dedicated themselves to protecting this community.
We sincerely hope this matter can be resolved immediately so that our focus can return to where it has always belonged—the protection of the residents of Frelinghuysen Township.
Respectfully,
The Membership of the Frelinghuysen Township Volunteer Fire Company
